EU anti-fraud agency probes alleged misuse of funds in Slovakia

EU anti-graft agency OLAF said Thursday it has opened an investigation into alleged misuse of EU funds in Slovakia uncovered by journalist Ján Kuciak, who was killed earlier this year.

Kuciak’s last stories, published posthumously, alleged links between the Italian mafia, Slovakian politics and fraud related to EU agricultural funds. The reporter was shot dead along with his fiancée, Martina Kušnírova, at their home in February.

“We can confirm that, following a preliminary assessment of the available information, OLAF has now opened an administrative investigation into the possible misuse of EU funds for agriculture in Slovakia,” a spokesperson said in a statement.

“The investigation is related to the issues that have recently been brought to light by the work of investigative journalist Ján Kuciak.”

OLAF decided to launch the investigation after finding sufficient suspicion of wrongdoing in a preliminary probe.

Also on Thursday, lawmakers at the European Parliament in Strasbourg approved a resolution urging “action to protect journalists across the EU.” The text passed by 573 votes in favor to 27 against, with 47 abstentions.

“The murders of Daphne Caruana Galizia and Ján Kuciak are an attempt to undermine our fundamental values and a blow to the rule of law in the European Union,” Parliament President Antonio Tajani said following the vote.

“This Parliament wishes to strengthen the right and duty of journalists to stand by free and independent information.”

Daphne Caruana Galizia, Malta’s most prominent investigative journalist, who had reported extensively on corruption, was killed in a car bombing near her home on October 16 last year.

The resolution also calls on authorities in Slovakia to mount a joint investigation with Europol, the EU’s law enforcement agency, into the double murder there.

The Slovak government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.